The property (including a car) of a deceased person is called the person's "estate". If the person has left a will then the person appointed in the will to "execute" the person's wishes (as set out in the will) is responsible for passing title of the car to the person it has been left to.
If there is no will then the laws of your country/state will appoint someone to administer the estate and to whom the persons estate should be distributed. If you have a valid claim on the estate you should contact this person.
There will be different requirements depending on the state you live in. In California, the next of kin can affect a change of title on a car owned by a person deceased.
The executor of the estate would need to apply for a lost title at the motor vehicle office in which the deceased lived or the car was registered.
Yes but you will need a letter of testamentary together with the title in order for the wife to sign off on it.
no not if it is not in your name
You can not register a car that you do not own. The car is owned by the estate of the deceased individual. The estate gets the title and then you buy it from the estate. Some legal process must occur to distribute the estate of a person who has died. Usually, someone is legally named the executor of the estate and had authority to settle the estate in a manner consistent with a will, if one exists. If no will, exists, the executor still has the power to sell or give away the items owned by the deceased. Technically, it is the estate which owns the car, with or without a title. If you want to become the onwer of the car you must have it transferred by the estate. It is the estate (and the executor is the agent for the estate) who must acquire title to the car. With appropriate documentation, such as a certificate of death and legal documentation identifying the executor, the executor can request a new title from the State Bureau of Motor Vehicles. That title may be in the name of the deceased or in the name of the estate. The estate owns the car. Only after the estate has the title can the estate sell or gift the car to someone.
You need to inquire at your state DMV to determine how to transfer the title properly.
In this state you can not simply get a registration for your deceased father's car! It is not that simple. If your father owned the car outright, it is first necessary to fill out paperwork to have the title transferred. In this state that is done through the Department of Motor Vehicles. One procedure is followed if the estate is being probated, a different procedure is followed if the estate is not being probated, that is if basically all he owned was the car and the clothes on his back. Each state has its own rules.
Did you inherit the car? If so, yes. If you did not inherit the car, then no.
I am a car salesman. My experience is yes. You need to call your local tag and title office.
Take the death certificate, car registration, and car title to the department of motor vehicles in the city/ town of the state you live.
If you and your deceased spouse were listed as "OR" on the title, it only takes on signature to release the title to the new owner. However, if the names were listed with "AND", then both signatures would be required. Since this is no longer physically possible, you need to take the title, along with the certificate of death, to the motor vehicle office and have your deceased spouses name removed from said title before you even attempt to sell or trade in this auto.
Goes on your credit as a repossession.